This 1927 Hispano-Suiza T49 features Sports Saloon coachwork by H.J. Mulliner and was purchased new from Albemarle Motors in London by decorated Colonel Guy Geddes, with whom it remained until his death in 1955. Chassis 7874 then had two additional long-term owners in the United Kingdom before being purchased in 2014 by its previous owner, who presented it at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and 2017 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. In addition to preservation honors at both concours, the car earned Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens Preservation Award in 2017. After being listed on BaT in 2018, the car was purchased five years ago by the seller’s father, who commissioned an exterior refresh that included a color change of the Weymann fabric body to green, stripping and polishing of the aluminum hood, and refinishing of the wheels in silver. Power is provided by a 3.7L overhead-cam inline-six, which is mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Additional features include mechanically actuated four-wheel drum brakes, dual side-mount spares, an electric fuel pump, a fold-down luggage rack hosting a black trunk, and brown leather interior upholstery. This T49 is now offered with an owner’s manual and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.
The six-cylinder T49 and its four-cylinder counterpart, the T48, were introduced in 1922 as smaller and more-affordable alternatives to Hispano-Suiza’s flagship H6 range. Built in Barcelona, Spain, the T49 rode on a 3,000mm-wheelbase chassis that could be outfitted with bodywork from a coachbuilder of the client’s choice. This example wears coachwork from H.J. Mulliner & Co. of Bedford Park in West London that was constructed using the patented Weymann fabric body design, which incorporated aviation design principles with a lightweight wood framework connected by steel joints and wrapped in a fabric covering.
Previously finished in maroon, the fabric body underwent a color change to green after being purchased by the seller’s father, while the hood panels were stripped of their maroon paint and polished. Additional features include Barker-patented Marchal dipping headlights, a black fabric roof with simulated landau bars, dual side mirrors, a driver-side spot lamp, a rear luggage rack, and a Brooks of Birmingham trunk, the latter of which was refinished in black under the seller’s father’s ownership.
The 20” wire wheels feature Hispano-Suiza engraving on the hubs and were refinished in silver under the seller’s father’s ownership, as were the dual side-mount spares. The T49’s frame was a smaller derivation of the H6’s underpinnings and featured mechanically actuated drum brakes and semi-elliptical leaf springs all around.
The right-hand-drive cabin is trimmed in brown leather over front bucket seats that feature adjustable backs positioned via leather straps with matching upholstery over the rear bench and door panels. Additional features include tan rear-compartment carpeting, roll-up windows, door pockets, rear robe bars, a wood dash with a passenger-side cubby, a right-hand shifter, and a bulb horn.
The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of Jaeger instrumentation including a 4k-rpm tachometer and an 80-mph speedometer. The five-digit odometer shows 96k miles, approximately 100 of which were added under the seller’s father’s ownership. Additional instruments include a clock and gauges monitoring fuel level, oil pressure, and amperage.
The 3.7-liter inline-six was designed by Marc Birkigt and based on his larger H6 engine, carrying over features such as an overhead camshaft and dual spark-plug ignition. Induction is through a single updraft carburetor, and an electric fuel pump was added under the ownership of the seller’s father. The Autovac system is disconnected.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission.